Options to speed up tiling on concrete: Any expert advice available?

[GrenadaRed]

I am renovating my house and have just had a concrete floor laid in my kitchen. I need to move in as soon as possible and am having a kitchen installed in 3 weeks. I understand that concrete takes a long time to dry and needs to be dry before tiling. Most people seem to say 1 inch per month, as I have read from previous posts. I could get the kitchen installed on some kind of platfrom and tile up to the units later, living with the concrete for some time, but it's not ideal with a young child.

I would like some advice as to how I can get the floor tiled in the next couple of weeks. I have read about products by Ardex and Weber and also about a decoupling membrane. I have no idea what costs we are talking about, how to get them, etc. The kitchen is 24 m2 approx. I am having travertine flooring.

I have asked my tiler who is coming to look at the floor, but believes that he will be able to use normal adhesive after 10 days ( I have used him before and he does a good job, but I'm not convinced he know his stuff with this particular situation). Someone called a technical specialist from an adhesive company who advised that with a product it can be tiled within 10 days using a flexible sealant and 21 days with normal sealant. He was apparently very knowledgeable, but this information seems to contradict all the information I have read on here.

So basically what can I do, what will it cost, where can I get it and what do I need to ask/tell my tiler to do to ensure a good job?

I would really appreciate advice from anyone with the knowledge to help here. Thank you very much.

 

[chris.tiling]

this link may help you with what adhesive to use...
http://www.tilersforums.com/tile-adhesive-grout-prep-forum/24674-tiling-green-screeds-mapei.html

then again - have just read the link and they only come in grey - where you would need white adhesive for Travertine - back to square one - some of the other guys will be along with more knowledge soon I am sure

 

[peckers]

this link may help you with what adhesive to use...
http://www.tilersforums.com/tile-adhesive-grout-prep-forum/24674-tiling-green-screeds-mapei.html

then again - have just read the link and they only come in grey - where you would need white adhesive for Travertine - back to square one - some of the other guys will be along with more knowledge soon I am sure

You beat me to it, I then looked at the bal green screed this only comes in grey too!
It could be possible that you could use the adhesive suitable for green screeds then put the schluter ditra matting on top and then tile with spf white to put the travertine tiles down with.
I may be corrected on this soon by someone with more knowledge on tiling onto green screeds.
You could phone mapei or bal technical and schluter technical for there advice!
link to schluter http://www.schluter.co.uk/produkt.aspx?doc=6-1-ditra.xml&pg=funktion

 

[enduro]

Also you could look at using a uncoupling membrane.

 

[turnip]

Yes, go for the Schluter Ditra, had a case like this a few weeks back, nice new concrete floor, unfortunately not entirely level, but thats another story.

 

[Ajax123]

Or an epoxy surface DPM - tremco Universal one coat, Laybond Universal DPM, Merlin Barrier coat are three of many that are around. You would be best off with one that does not need to be tacky when you tile to it.

 

[Homefront Tiler]

Schluter every time for me.


Peter McCluskey
Homefront
www.hfbi.co.uk

 

[White Room]

Bal do a green screed adhesive

 

[marbleman]

bal green screed is grey only at the mo, ditra matting is the way to go

 

[GrenadaRed]

Thanks for the great help so far. It seems that all is not lost. Schluter technical are calling me back tomorrow and will apparently recommend the mat. Sounds a bit pricey, but if it's the best option I can live with it. I called mapei technical who said that under no circumstances can you tile over concrete within 6 weeks, even with a decoupling mat. They said that after 6 weeks you can tile onto it with normal adhesive. How does this tie up with a) lot of people saying it takes 1 inch per month to dry (I have 4) and b) other compaies selling products that allow you to tile after a week or two?

It's very confusing for a novice and I have even spoken to a couple of tilers, all of whom have different opinions.

It sounds from your advice that there are options though, which is great. Just to be really clear then can someone please tell me exactly what materials need to go down and in what order for the two options i.e. one the 1 of the 3 products listed by Ajax 123 and also the schluer mat. I just want to make it really clear with my tiler who I am not sure is as concerned as me.

Thanks again, excellent help. I will also call bal, etc tomorrow.

Cheers